ByteDance’s popular apps Lemon8 and CapCut may be affected by a proposed ban on TikTok in the US. The “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications” act, set to take effect on January 19th, targets apps operated or controlled by ByteDance. If implemented, this ban would also impact Lemon8, which is promoted within TikTok, and CapCut.
ByteDance has been trying to promote Lemon8 as an alternative to TikTok, but the move may be a strategic gamble. With Trump filing an amicus brief to delay the final decision on TikTok’s fate, it remains unclear whether ByteDance can negotiate a deal to save the app or its sister apps in the US.
The act defines foreign adversary controlled applications, which includes any website or application operated by ByteDance. This means that even if Trump were to strike a deal with ByteDance, Lemon8 and CapCut would still be subject to removal from US app stores unless a new agreement is negotiated that excludes Chinese ownership.
It’s worth noting that Apple and Google are unlikely to allow Lemon8 and CapCut to remain available in the US once the ban takes effect, as they may face liability under the act. With this in mind, it’s unclear why ByteDance would continue promoting Lemon8, despite the risks involved. The company’s motivations behind this move are unclear, but it seems possible that they’re trying to boost Lemon8’s numbers before losing access to US users.
Source: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-promotes-lemon8-ahead-of-us-ban/736722